SEATTLE -- The Mariners lost their star center fielder to an apparent head injury on Thursday night, as Julio Rodríguez was forced to exit in the third inning against the Angels after taking a 78.2 mph throw off the back of his helmet on a double play attempt.
Then two innings later, his replacement was removed, as Victor Robles was still feeling the effects of a 97.9 mph fastball that he took off his right wrist/forearm area a half-inning later.
The Mariners did not have an immediate update on either player, each of whom initially remained in the game following their respective incidents but exited shortly after.
As part of the lineup trickle-down, Luke Raley moved from right field to center and Weston Wilson came off the bench to take Raley’s post.
Rodríguez’s incident took place in the bottom of the first inning, when he went first-to-third on a Dominic Canzone grounder to Angels first baseman Nolan Schnauel, who attempted to ignite a 3-6-1 double play. But Schanuel’s throw hit Rodríguez directly off the back of his helmet, allowing Rodríguez to race into third.
Standing on the bag, the Mariners’ center fielder was fired up, clapping his hands together emphatically. But he quickly fell into a crouch, at which point manager Dan Wilson and head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson came out for an extended visit.
Rodríguez remained in the game for the rest of the bottom of the first and then played center field for the top of the second. But immediately after, he was seen conferring again with Torgerson in the home dugout, before receding into the home clubhouse at T-Mobile Park for good.
Rodríguez was then replaced by Robles, who was hit by Angels starter Walbert Ureña in his first plate appearance a half-inning later.
Robles was examined by assistant athletic trainer Taylor Bennett but remained in the game -- also for another half-inning in the field -- before being removed.
That was Ureña’s second HBP in the early stages of this one, as Randy Arozarena took a 98.3 mph heater off his left elbow in the first inning that also necessitated an evaluation from Torgerson.